Plant Therapy: a Nonpharmacological and Noninvasive Treatment Approach Medically Beneficial to the Wellbeing of Hospital Patients

A green atmosphere and interaction with nature (plants and flowers) can considerably improve the human senses and sanity by decreasing the stress associated with anxiety, depression, neurotic impairment, and other psychologic symptoms. The current paper reports a therapeutic horticultural study’s findings regarding the effect of indoor foliage plants and flower arrangements on health prospects of surgical patients. Two surgical wards, ward A (with foliage plants and arranged flowers) and ward B (without foliage plants and flowers), were selected for the study. A total of 270 patients were randomly assigned to either ward to give 135 patients in each. Patients admitted to ward A had significantly more optimistic and promising health improvements than those in ward B. Provision of foliage plants and flower arrangements to the patients in ward A resulted in shorter postoperative stays, lower intake of analgesics, lower pain intensity, less stress fatigue, and improved vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, body temperature) as compared to patients in ward B. Moreover, analyses showed that patients in ward A had a stronger psychologic frame of mind regarding their recovery from surgery and had more positive emotions and feelings regarding their stay in the hospital. They also felt that the ward atmosphere was more calming, pleasant, and satisfactory. Additionally, small group discussions and focal interviews with ward doctors and nurses confirmed the findings of the questionnaire that foliage plants & flower arrangements create a cherished environment in the ward, reduce patients’ stress, improve medical and psychologic status of patients, and also conveye positive messages of the hospital. These findings confirm the therapeutic value of horticultural activities, particularly in surgical patients in a stressed hospital setting.     

Manganese nutrition improves the productivity and grain biofortification of fine grain aromatic rice in conventional and conservation production systems

Manganese (Mn) deficiency is prevalent in rice-growing regions resulting in poor paddy yield and human health. In this study, role of Mn, applied through various methods, in improving the productivity and grain biofortification of fine grain aromatic rice was evaluated. Manganese was delivered as soil application (SA) (0.5 kg ha^?1), foliar spray (FA) (0.02 M Mn), seed priming (SP) (0.1 M Mn) and seed coating (SC) (2 g Mn kg^?1 seed) in conventional (puddled transplanted flooded rice) and conservation (direct seeded aerobic rice) production systems at two different sites (Faisalabad, Sheikhupura) in Punjab, Pakistan. Manganese application, through either method, improved the grain yield and grain Mn contents of fine grain aromatic rice grown in both production systems at both sites. However, Mn application as SC and FA was the most beneficial and cost effective in improving the productivity and grain biofortification in this regard. Overall, order of improvement in grain yield was SC (3.85 t ha^?1) > FA (3.72 t ha^?1) > SP (3.61 t ha^?1) > SA (3.36 t ha^?1). Maximum net benefits and benefit–cost ratio were obtained through Mn SC in flooded field at Faisalabad, which was followed by Mn SP in direct seeded aerobic rice at the same site. However, maximum marginal rate of return was noted with Mn SC in direct seeded aerobic rice at both sites. In crux, Mn nutrition improved the productivity and grain biofortification of fine grain aromatic rice grown in both conventional and conservation production systems. However, Mn application as seed treatment (SC or SP) was the most cost effective and economical.     

新疆盐渍化区土壤养分的空间结构和分布特征

结合地理信息系统(GIS),在面积约为2000km2的新疆典型盐渍化区渭干河流域布设了土壤取样点43个,测定了土壤表层(0~30cm)养分(全氮、全磷、全钾、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾)的空间变异规律。结果表明:七种养分元素中除了碱解氮、速效磷的含量服从对数正态分布,其它养分元素均符合正态分布;半方差分析得出各项目都能很好的用模型来拟合,全氮、全磷、速效钾符合指数模型,碱解氮、速效磷、全磷符合球状模型。只有有机质是符合高斯模型;全氮和碱解氮的系统空间相关性很弱,而其余养分元素均表现出中等强度的空间相关性,变程在14.3km~67.0km之间,相差比较大;用Kriging插值法对未测点的养分元素进行最优估计,绘制含量分布图,从而可以更直观的反映研究区土壤养分的空间结构和分布特征。     

The low down on association mapping in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The past few decades have witnessed hundreds of family-based linkage studies mapping for numerous traits but only a limited number of QTLs were actually cloned, tagged, or used for marker-assisted selection. Although providing valuable information, this conventional approach cannot be scaled up to underpin the incredible amount of phenotypic variation in the form of 266, 589 hexaploid wheat accessions maintained in public germplasm collections. Association mapping has recently emerged as an alternative and more powerful mapping approach where a natural population is surveyed to determine marker-trait associations using linkage disequilibrium (LD). After its first application for milling quality in 2006, association mapping studies in hexaploid wheat are being extended to tag yield traits, protein quality, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Advances in genotyping technology and statistical approaches greatly accelerated the shift from conventional linkage-based mapping to LD-based association mapping. Association mapping stands out because of simultaneous utilization of a large number of ex situ-conserved natural variation due to historical recombination events accumulated over centuries.     

Functional properties of protein isolates extracted from stabilized rice bran by microwave, dry heat, and parboiling

Protein isolates extracted from differently stabilized rice bran were analyzed to work out the food use potential. Bulk density remained higher for isolates obtained from heat stabilized bran, the treatments were found to have positive impact on the oil absorption properties, while the water absorption was slightly impaired owing to some possible configurational changes. Surface hydrophobicity and emulsion properties were improved with bran stabilization. Isolates exhibited better foaming properties owing to the flexible nature of protein molecules, with less intensive disulfide bonding, that were slightly affected by the stabilization treatment. Nitrogen solubility index followed a curved pattern with the least value near isoelectric point that showed an increasing trend toward basic pH, and parboiled protein isolates exhibited better gelling properties among the isolates.     

Immunoprotective role of LaSota vaccine under immunosuppressive conditions in chicken challenged with velogenic avian avulavirus-1

The first objective of the present study was to evaluate if the antibodies induced by the live LaSota and killed Newcastle disease (sub-genotype VIIi) vaccines protect the chickens against exposure with pathogenic avian avulavirus-1 (AAvV-1) of chicken and/or pigeon origins. The second objective was to study the effect of vaccines on stressed birds (dexamethasone, aflatoxin, and heat stressed) with respect to antibody production and protection against pathogenic AAvV-1 challenge. Sixty-one-day-old Hubbard chickens were divided into six groups (gA–gF) with ten animals each. All the groups received LaSota (10⁵ EID₅₀, 0.1 ml per chick) on days 7 and 27 via eye drop and one intramuscular injection of a killed vaccine (sub-genotype VIIi) (10^7.5 EID₅₀, 1 ml) on day 18, except the control birds received the PBS only. Moreover, group gC-DEX received dexamethasone intramuscularly at a dose rate of 1-mg/kg body weight daily; gD-AFLA had received aflatoxin as oral gavage at a dose rate of 30 ppb daily, and gE-HEAT was kept under heat stressed (38 °C) till challenged. All the groups were challenged with AAvV-1 strain of chicken origin of sub-genotype VIIi, except the group gA-pigeon was challenged with pigeon-origin strain (sub-genotype VIm). The result showed that the gA-pigeon and gB-chicken vaccinate showed 100% and 80% protection. The immunosuppressive birds produced low pre-challenge HI titer, and protection was observed at 40%, 50%, and 70% in gC-DEX, gD-AFLA, and gE-HEAT, respectively. Our findings suggest the stress factors such as aflatoxin in the feed and dexamethasone are immunosuppressive in nature and suppress the immune response and its associated protective role during infection.

     

Foraging technique and prey‐handling time in black‐necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus)

The foraging technique and prey‐handling time of the black‐necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) was studied in Dudhwa National Park, India, from January 1996 to June 1997. The habitat in which the storks foraged played an important role in selecting a particular technique to procure food. Black‐necked storks mostly foraged using a tactile technique (>90%), but sometimes foraged visually. When the water level was estimated to be less than 60 cm, the storks foraged using tactile techniques. There was no difference in the feeding techniques of male and female storks. Foraging attempt rates varied between the sexes in summer (May) and during late winter (February) in 1997. The search time for prey increased when the water level was high and fish were widely distributed. Decreases in water level resulted in concentration offish in certain areas and this contributed to high fish‐catching rates by black‐necked storks. Males had a higher success rate offish capture than females. However, females captured longer fish than males. Prey‐handling time increased in both sexes as fish length increased. Fish 4–6 cm long were most frequently taken by the foraging storks.     

Localization of heat shock proteins and histopathological changes in the kidneys of transported pigs

To demonstrate the expression of heat shock proteins (Hsps) in the kidney, 5 kinds of Hsps, namely, Hsp70, Hsp72, Hsp86, Hsp90, and Hsp27, were examined in pigs after 6-h-transports by using western blot analysis. All 5 Hsps were detected in the kidneys of both the transported and control pigs. Hsp expression in the control pigs indicated that Hsps have some physiological functions in addition to stress-response functions. With the exception of Hsp27, a significant reduction was observed in all the levels of Hsps in the kidneys of the transport-stressed pigs after 6 h of transport, particularly in the levels of Hsp70 and Hsp72, which belong to the HSP70 family; and Hsp86 and Hsp90, which belong to the HSP90 family. The results indicate that 6-h-transports are not only related to renal pathological injury but also to a reduction in most of Hsp levels in the kidney. However, slight Hsp27 induction (P < 0.05) indicates that Hsps that undergo different changes following transportation stress are involved in different physiological functions. Whether the decreased amount of a certain Hsp may indicate damage and/or overuse and whether Hsps actually protect kidney tissue from such overuse remain to be elucidated.     

Enhancement of maize plant growth with inoculation of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and biochar amendment in soil

Maize plant has an absolute requirement of nutrients (N, P, and K) for growth and development. The microbial application can facilitate in addressing limited access to chemical fertilizer concern. Moreover, biochar and phosphorus-solubilizing bacterial (PSB) community can contribute together in nutrient availability. Both have the P-supply potential to the soil, but their interaction has been tested less under semiarid climatic conditions. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the potential of biochemically tested promising PSB strains and biochar for maize plant growth and nutritional status in plant and soil. Therefore, two isolated PSB strains from maize rhizosphere were biochemically tested in vitro and identified by 16S rDNA gene analysis. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse where the plant growth and nutrient availability to the plants were observed. In this regard, all the treatments such as PSB strain-inoculated plants, biochar-treated plants, and a combination of PSBs + biochar-treated plants were destructively sampled on day 45 (D₄₅) and day 65 (D₆₅) of sowing with four replications at each time. PSB inoculation, biochar incorporation, and their combinations have positive effects on maize plant height and nutrient concentration on D₄₅ and D₆₅. In particular, plants treated with sawdust biochar + Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain 31MZR inoculation increased N (32.8%), P (72.5%), and K (42.1%) against control on D₆₅. Besides that, only L. fusiformis strain 31MZR inoculation enhanced N (23.1%) and P (61.5%) than control which shows the significant interaction of PSB and biochar in nutrient uptake. PSB and biochar have the potential to be used as a promising amendment in improving plant growth and nutrient absorption besides the conventional approaches.     

The effect of micronutrient foliar application on yield,seed quality and some biochemical traits of soybean cultivars under drought stress

Abstract

This experiment carried out as split plot factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications during two consecutive years (2015–2016). The main plot consisted of drought stress: complete irrigation, irrigation withholding at R1 stage, irrigation withholding at R2 stage and subplots included foliar application of micronutrients: distilled water (control), zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate and zinc sulfate?+?manganese sulfate and cultivar as: Williams and Zan elite. The results showed that proline and linoleic acid were increased significantly, but chlorophyll a and b, seed yield, protein percentage, oleic and linolenic acids were decreased significantly by irrigation withholding. Also, the maximum values of chlorophyll b, protein percentage and linolenic acid were achieved by Williams. The significant increasing effect of zinc was found on the maximum root and stem proline, chlorophyll b, and oleic, linolenic and linoleic unsaturated fatty acids, meanwhile the maximum leaf proline was obtained by manganese sulfate.